Sports and Activities

We don't wear jumpers... we use them for goalposts!

We're a passionate bunch in the North East and, when it comes to sport, we like to turn it up a notch. It's not all just about the football... we have rugby, basketball, ice hockey, athletics and racing to get exicted about. You can jump on your bike on the miles of cycle routes, scramble up the climbing walls or head out to sea on your surf board...

Football

Football isn't the only sport we're into in NewcastleGateshead... but it is one of our favourites. Check out the latest football fixtures from the region's top clubs along with other footie-themed activites and events, or find out more about Newcastle United's St James' Park and Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light.

Rugby

Cycle NewcastleGateshead!

Whether you're a keen cyclist or a total newby, NewcastleGateshead has so much to offer budding bikers. With picturesque cycling routes around iconic events and great family rides, including off-road routes, the North East is a buzzing place for any cyclist of any level.

From great cycle routes to beautiful stop-offs and handy shops - if you're thinking of getting back on your bike you have come to the right place.

Get the wheels in motion by planning your journey and along the way stop off at some of the North East's best spots or even some of North Yorkshire's best spots for those who like a long-distance cycle.

Cycle Routes

Cycling routes around NewcastleGateshead

NewcastleGateshead and the North East are full of great cycle routes for people of all ages and all levels from beginner to advance. The North East is the ideal spot to start or finish a journey – offering the chance to see its beautiful landscapes and coastal views along the way.

Intermediate:

Do you love a spot of golf as well as cycling? The Gosforth Loop via Newcastle and Morpeth will see you pass Gosforth, Newcastle, Northumberland, Gosforth Park, Arcot Hall and Bedlington Golf Clubs – so take your pick if you want to stop off for a quick fire on driving range! (38 miles)

This one is a little trickier, mainly because of the high climbs, but make no mistake this is a gorgeous ride between Newcastle and Corbridge along the Tyne Valley. (49 miles)

Take a ride from Newcastle to Consett – this route incorporates some busy road travelling but has the advantage of remaining on flat land, or fairly flat, most of the way through. (51.5 miles)

The Three River Route is probably one of the nicest and traffic-free journeys – it is particularly charming as it connects the rivers Tyne, Wear and Tees and subsequently Middlesbrough, Durham and South Shields with Newcastle (80 miles)

Advanced:

If you want to take trip for one day or spread it over two than Newcastle to Beverley Century is one of the most fun trips you can make. (111.5 miles)

Hadrian’s Cycleway has so much to offer budding cyclists – running the length of Hadrian’s Wall it is a challenging ride but a great opportunity to see this UNESCO World Heritage Site. (174 miles)

Coast to Coast:

This one is not for the faint hearted… a challenging 140 mile cycle from the West Coast to the East Coast, starting at Whitehaven, crossing over the Pennines and ending in Tynemouth.

Although the Bradley Wiggins’ and Victoria Pendleton’s among us could complete this route in a day, we highly recommend that if you don’t consider yourself to be a super-fit cyclist that you tackle it in three or four days – a three day cycle is strenuous and requires a lot of physical effort, whereas the four day cycle allows you to tackle the most difficult part of the route, the Pennines, over two days.

Saddle Skedaddle offer a range of guided and unguided Coast to Coast cycling packages and can take care of all of the nitty gritty bits for you – the hotels, the transfers and even the bikes!

Easy Riding

Easy rides around NewcastleGateshead and North East

Whether you’re just making the most of the good weather or just picking up the bike again – NewcastleGateshead and the wider regions offer some great short trails perfect for new cyclists and families.

Beginners:

The Jesmond to Gosforth circuit is a popular one for those who haven’t cycled in a while, or maybe ever! (6.81 miles)

If you’re looking for a little step up or a more countryside cycle then the Newcastle Training Route is perfect, cycling through the suburbs of Newcastle you’ll breeze past garden centres and supermarkets before passing Newcastle Race Course. (12.34 miles)

If you want to explore some of the regions biggest tourism spots then the River Tyne Loop will be right up your street – passing Segendunum, Quayside, Bede’s World, Arbeia, the Baltic, Sage Gateshead and Millennium Bridge. (21.13 miles)

The South Tyne Trail is one of the most popular routes you can take, running from the source of the Tyne over to Alston and Haltwhistle – this route is also a hot spot for walkers so expect to come across some pedestrians on your journey.

Social Rides:

If you’re looking to explore the delightful scenery of NewcastleGateshead and the North East then Cycle Hub has a variety of guided bike rides that will show you all the great sites around the toon.

On the second Saturday of every month the company holds a social bike ride called Social Rides – leaving at 10am under the supervision of two leaders you will cycle between 10 and 20 miles at a leisurely pace.

The event is free – all you need to bring is your bike!

Pit Stops

Places to stop-off and relax in NewcastleGateshead

NewcastleGateshead is a great city for cycling with numerous bars, restaurants and attractions catering for the cycling community.

There are bicycle parking facilities on most streets around NewcastleGateshead meaning that your bike can stand somewhere safe while you hit the shops, go for a meal, or even have a look around some of our famous attractions.

Shopping

Boasting over 130 shops, intu Eldon Square has something for everyone, and you can even leave your helmets and lycras in the locker facilities to save you carrying them around all day.
Medium Lockers start from £2.00 for 2 hours up to £4.00 for 10 hours.
Large Lockers start from £3.00 for 2 hours up to £5.00 for 10 hours.

If you fancy going a little further afield, intu MetroCentre in Gateshead is just five miles away from Newcastle centre, and is accessible via the Quayside-Stargate Cycle Route. It has 64 bike parking spaces on site which are all under cover and observed by CCTV, so you know your bike will be safe while you shop. Please do take care when cycling on busy roads.

Food and Drink

A little out of the way in Ouseburn, The Cycle Hub is a great place for cyclists to stop when they’re feeling a little peckish, as not only does it serve delicious snacks and refreshments, but it also doubles as a bike workshop so you can pump up your tyres and oil your chains before hitting the road again.

There are also a number of restaurants and bars scattered all along the quayside which have outdoor dining facilities such as Gusto and The Slug and Lettuce, which are made easily accessible by the vast cycle path that stretches right along the quayside.

Things to See

There are many great attractions in NewcastleGateshead, and the majority of them are cycle-friendly!

The Life Science Centre is a great place to visit and has plenty of cycle racks in Times Square. Lockers are also available for the duration of your visit to store your belongings while you look at what the centre has to offer.

Lugging a bicycle on and off a train can be a bit of a hassle, but luckily NewcastleGateshead have the perfect solution for those of you travelling by train but who would rather see the city on two wheels – the Scratch Bike. Scratch Bikes can be picked up from any of the 15 Scratch Bike pick-up points across the city and used for two hours at a time – the nearest pick-up point is right outside of Central Station.

Handy Shops

Handy cycling shops around NewcastleGateshead

Let’s face it – we can’t always rely on our bikes to go the distance, and that’s why it is important that we know where the nearest bike repair shop is when we are out and about!

Buy-cycles

The largest cycling specialist shop in NewcastleGateshead is Start Cycles which can be found on Market Street in Newcastle City Centre. Start Cycles stock everything bike-related from inner tubes and chains to sportswear and GPS – and all at reasonable prices!

Get it Fixed

The Cycle Hub workshop in Ouseburn is the one-stop-shop for when your bike needs a health-check. Whether it’s falling apart or just an unknown squeak, the experts are there to sort it out for you, and better yet you can grab a cuppa while you wait.

The Cycle Hub also offer bike services – Basic Service for £15 and Deluxe Service for £85 – to keep your bike healthier for longer.

Hire a Bike

You don’t have to own a bike to cycle round NewcastleGateshead!

The Cycle Hub has a great selection of top-quality bikes available for hiring. Whether you need it to get around for a few hours, or are planning a week-long ride with the kids – they will have the package and equipment to suit your needs.

Scratch Bikes is the new bike-hire service organised by Newcastle NE1 – it is the quickest and easiest way to hire bikes on a short term basis in the city. You simply have to download the Scratch Bikes app, search for your nearest Scratch Bike pick-up point, text Scratch Bikes with the bike code, receive the key-code, unlock the lock and you’re off on a two-wheeled adventure! Simple!

Golf

NewcastleGateshead and the North East is home to some of the country's finest golfing spots, with beautiful countryside and stunning views.

Why not get active in one of the great locations in the North East, whether you are a regular or beginner, there is something for everyone.

You can also make it a family day out, with a lot of the courses located within hotel grounds - who also have spas, restaurants and pubs.

Number of results:

The 140 mile Sea to Sea (C2C) Cycle Route passes through the Derwent Walk Country Park between Rowlands Gill and Swalwell. It’s about 20 miles from the finishing point for those heading to Tynemouth from the west coast.

Price

Visit Close House and you will discover something a little different, something sophisticated, and something exceptional. An elegant and beautifully restored 18th Century Mansion, set in stunning Northumberland countryside

Situated in the former church of St Mark's, the listed building provides a spectacular indoor climbing environment with over 72 climbing lines and over 1200 square metres of climbing divided into 3 zones Bouldering, Central zone & Eduactional zones

Want an extreme experience in Newcastle, or know someone who does? How does dodging pellets of paint flying at over 170mph, while you’re running through a field littered with real red double decker buses and replica villages sound?